Side-loading quadrant deadend clamp assembly

ABSTRACT

A clamp assembly includes a body member having a cable groove formed therein to receive a cable. A keeper is connected to the body member and has a lower surface adapted to engage the cable received in the cable groove. A biasing member is disposed between the keeper and the body member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a clamp assembly for deadending aconductor. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clampassembly having a biasing member disposed between a keeper and bodymember of the clamp assembly. Still more particularly, the presentinvention relates to a clamp assembly in which a conductor is securedbetween a keeper and body member, and a biasing member is disposed on afastener securing the keeper to the body member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Deadend clamps are commonly used to secure a cable under tension, forexample, an overhead electrical conductor. The deadend clamp anchors thereceived cable to a supporting structure, such as a tower or utilitypole. The deadend clamp transmits the tension on the cable to thesupporting structure.

Conventional deadend clamps typically include one or more U-bolts toclamp a keeper, which in turn applies a clamping pressure to theconductor, such as the deadend clamp disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,752,680. One disadvantage associated with such deadend clamps is thatthe lineman must remove several nuts and washers to insert theconductor, and then the nuts and washers must be reconnected to theU-bolts. That procedure becomes even more difficult when the lineman isworking with an energized conductor in the field. Accordingly, a needexists for a clamp assembly that is easily assembled.

Another disadvantage associated with conventional deadend clamps is theuse of non-captive fasteners to secure the keeper to the main body.Non-captive fasteners are prone to loosening, thereby providing a lesssecure connection between the keeper and the main body. Accordingly, aneed exists for a clamp assembly in which the keeper is securelyconnected to the main body to maintain clamping pressure on theconductor.

Still another disadvantage associated with conventional deadend clampsthe use of external springs between the keeper and the main body. Thesesprings can become dislodged when tightening the keeper to the mainbody. Additionally, these springs require the fasteners to be tightenedin a specific sequence to prevent damaging the springs, therebyproviding an inefficient and time consuming task for the lineman.Accordingly, a need exists for a clamp assembly having an improvedbiasing member between the keeper and main body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the present invention toprovide a clamp assembly that is easy to assemble.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a clampassembly in which a keeper is securely connected to a main body.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a clampassembly in which a biasing member is securely maintained between akeeper and a main body.

The foregoing objectives are basically attained by a clamp assembly thatincludes a body member having a cable groove formed therein to receive acable. A keeper is connected to the body member and has a lower surfaceadapted to engage the cable received in the cable groove. A biasingmember is disposed between the keeper and the body member.

The foregoing objectives are also basically attained by a clamp assemblyincluding a body member and a keeper. A cable groove is formed in thebody member to receive a cable. The keeper has a lower surface adaptedto engage the cable received in the cable groove. A threaded fastenerconnects the keeper to the body member. An internally threaded nutdisposed in a chamber in the keeper receives the fastener. A biasingmember is disposed on the fastener.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken inconjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodimentof the invention.

As used in this application, the terms “front,” “rear,” “upper,”“lower,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and other orientational descriptorsare intended to facilitate the description of the clamp assembly, andare not intended to limit the structure of the clamp assembly to anyparticular position or orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above aspects and features of the present invention will be moreapparent from the description for an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a side loading quadrant deadendclamp assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the clamp assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the clamp assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the clamp assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view in cross section of the clamp assembly takenalong line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational in cross section of the clamp assemblytaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a body member of the clampassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective of the body member of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the body member of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the body member of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the body member of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the body member of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the body member of FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a keeper of the clamp assembly of FIG.1;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the keeper of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view of the keeper of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the keeper of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the keeper of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 19 is a rear elevational view of the clamp assembly of FIG. 1.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-19, a clamp assembly 11 includes a body member 21and a keeper 31. The body member 21 has a cable groove 71 formed thereinto receive a cable 9. The keeper 31 is connected to the body member 21and has a lower surface 34 adapted to engage the cable 9 received in thecable groove 71. A biasing member 41 is disposed between the keeper 31and the body member 21.

The body member 21 includes a clevis bracket 51 having first and secondmounting ears 52 and 53, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Openings 54 and 55in the mounting ears 52 and 53 receive a clevis pin 56. As shown in FIG.4, the clevis pin 56 has a first end 57 and a second end 58. A head 59is disposed at the first end 57 of the clevis pin. An opening 60 isformed proximal the second end 58 of the clevis pin 56. The second end58 of the clevis pin 56 is inserted through the first and secondmounting ears 52 and 53. A cotter pin 61 is inserted through the opening60 in the clevis pin 56, thereby preventing the clevis pin 56 from beingremoved from the mounting ears 52 and 53. The head 59 of the clevis pin56 is larger than the openings 54 and 55 in the mounting ears 52 and 53to limit insertion of the clevis pin through the openings 54 and 55 inthe mounting ears. The cotter pin 61 has a head 62 at one end and araised portion 63 proximal the other end to substantially preventaccidental withdrawal of the cotter pin from the clevis pin opening 60.The head 62 of the cotter pin 61 is larger than the clevis pin opening60 to limit insertion of the cotter pin. The raised portion 62 of thecotter pin 61 flexes to allow insertion of cotter pin through the clevispin opening 60, but prevents accidental withdrawal of the cotter pinfrom the clevis pin opening 60. The clevis bracket 51 allows the clampassembly 11 to be pivotally connected to a supporting structure.

A cable groove 71 extends from a first end 22 to proximal a second end23 of the body member 21, as shown in FIG. 2. The cable groove 71 has a90 degree bend 72 therein, as shown in FIG. 8, to bring the conductor 9in line with the clevis bracket 51. The cable groove 71 is preferablyformed in a side of the body member 21 such that the conductor 9 can beinserted in the cable groove in a radial direction of the conductor,i.e., from the side of the clamp assembly 11. A lip 70 is formed at anouter edge of the cable groove 71, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, tosubstantially prevent the cable 9 from exiting the cable groove 71before being clamped between the body member 21 and the keeper 31.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pocket 73 is formed in the body member 21 proximalthe first end 22 thereof. The pocket 73 is preferably a substantiallyU-shaped cavity configured to receive the keeper 31, as shown in FIG. 3.The pocket 73 has opposite side walls 74 and 75 and a bottom wall 76therebetween. A fastener opening 77 in the bottom wall 76 of the pocket73 receives a fastener 13 to secure the keeper 31 to the body member 21,as shown in FIG. 6.

A recessed area 78 is formed on an outer surface 79 of the bottom wall76 of the pocket 73, as shown in FIG. 6. The recessed area 78 ispreferably substantially V-shaped, as shown in FIG. 7. The recessed area78 receives the washer 16 disposed on the shaft 15 of the fastener, asshown in FIG. 6.

The keeper 31 is secured to a side of the body member 21 below theclevis bracket 51, as shown in FIG. 2. The keeper 31 has a fasteningportion 32 and a cable engaging portion 33, as shown in FIGS. 14-18. Acable groove 34 is disposed in the cable engaging portion 33 of thekeeper 31, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 16. The keeper cable groove 34 isdisposed opposite the body member cable groove 71 to securely retain thecable 9 therebetween when the keeper 31 is secured to the body member21.

The fastening portion 32 of the keeper 31 has a fastener bore 35 passingfrom an inner surface 36 to an outer surface 37 thereof, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. A chamber 38 is formed at the end of the bore proximalthe outer surface 37 to receive a nut 17 disposed on the fastener 13.The chamber 38 is preferably hexagonally shaped to correspond to theouter shape of the nut 17, thereby providing a captive nut that issubstantially prevented from rotational movement on the fastener 13.

An eye 65 in the body member 21 facilitates manipulation of the clampassembly 11 by a lineman. Preferably, the eye 65 has a substantiallyoval shape. The cable groove preferably runs between the eye 65 and themounting ears 52 and 53. Accordingly, the clevis pin 56 does not need tobe removed to insert the conductor 9 in the cable groove 71.

The fastener 13 is inserted through a fastener opening 77 in the bottomwall 76 of the pocket 73 of the body member 21 and is received by afastener bore 35 in the keeper 31. The fastener 13 has a head 14 and athreaded shaft 15 extending therefrom, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thewasher 16 and the nut 17 are disposed on the fastener shaft 13. Whenassembled, the washer 16 is received in the recess 78 in the body member21 and the nut 17 is received in the chamber 38 in the fastener portion32 of the keeper 31.

The biasing member 41 is disposed on the shaft 15 of the fastener 13, asshown in FIGS. 1-3, 5 and 6. The biasing member 41 has a first end 42that abuts an inner surface 80 of the bottom wall 76, as shown in FIG.3. A second end 43 of the biasing member 41 abuts the nut 17 received inthe chamber 38 of the keeper 31, as shown in FIG. 6. The biasing member41 is preferably a helical tapered spring in which a diameter at thefirst end 42 is larger than a diameter at the second end 43.

The body member 21 is preferably unitarily formed as a single-piece. Thebody member 21 is preferably made of an aluminum alloy. The keeper 31 ispreferably unitarily formed as a single-piece. The keeper 31 ispreferably made of an aluminum alloy.

Assembly and Operation

The deadend clamp assembly 11 is shown assembled in FIGS. 1-7. The bodymember 21 is connected to a support, such as a bracket, and the clevispin 56 is passed through the mounting ear openings 54 and 55. The cotterpin 61 is then passed through the opening 60 in the clevis pin 56 toprevent the cotter pin from being removed from the mounting ears 52 and53. The clevis pin 56 allows the clamp assembly 11 to pivot with respectto the support, thereby facilitating receiving the cable 9.

The cable 9 is inserted in the cable groove 71 from a side of the bodymember (i.e., in a radial direction of the cable). The lip 70, as shownin FIG. 2, prevents the cable 9 from slipping out of the cable groove 71as the fastener 13 is tightened to draw the keeper 31 closer to the bodymember 21 to clamp the cable therebetween.

The washer 16 is disposed on the shaft 15 of fastener 13 such that thewasher is received by the recessed area 78 in the body member 21, asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6. To clamp the cable 9 between the body member 21and the keeper 31, a fastener 13 is inserted through the fasteneropening 77 in the body member 21 and through the bore 35 in the keeper31. The nut 17 is disposed in the chamber 38 of the fastener portion 32of the keeper 31 and peened in the chamber 38 to substantially preventupward (axial) movement.

The biasing member 41 is disposed on the shaft 15 of the fastener 13such that the biasing member is prevented from being dislodged duringtightening. The fastener 13 is tightened, thereby drawing the fastenerportion 32 of the keeper 31 into the pocket 73 of the body member 21.The biasing member 41 is compressed as the fastener portion 32 of thekeeper 31 is drawn into the pocket 73. Simultaneously, the cable portion33 of the keeper 31 is drawn toward the retained cable 9 in the cablegroove 71. Tightening of the fastener 13 is stopped when the keepercable groove 34 engages the cable 9, thereby clamping the cable 9between the keeper 31 and the body member 21. The chamber 38 and thepeened nut 17 substantially prevent rotation and movement of the captivenut 17 on the fastener shaft 15, thereby securely retaining the keeper31 to the body member 21. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 19, the side walls 74and 75 substantially prevent rotation of the keeper 31 relative to thebody member 21 as the keeper 31 is drawn into the pocket 73 of the bodymember 21.

While an advantageous embodiment has been chosen to illustrate theinvention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clamp assembly, comprising: a body memberhaving a cable groove and a fastener opening, the fastener openingextending through the body member in a first direction along an axiallength of a fastener and a second direction radially to the fastener; akeeper having a surface adapted to engage a cable received in the cablegroove, and wherein the fastener extends through the fastener openingconnecting the keeper to the body member, and wherein the cable can beloaded into the cable groove in a radial direction of the cable withoutremoval of the keeper or the fastener from the body member.
 2. The clampassembly of claim 1, further comprising an internally threaded nutconnected to the fastener and disposed in a chamber in the keeper. 3.The clamp assembly of claim 1, further comprising a biasing memberdisposed between the keeper and the body member.
 4. The clamp assemblyof claim 1, wherein the cable groove has a bend for supporting the cablein a first cable direction and a second cable direction.
 5. The clampassembly of claim 4, wherein the bend for supporting the cable isapproximately 90 degrees.
 6. The clamp assembly of claim 1, wherein apocket is formed in the body member to receive translation of the keeperfrom a first position engaged with the cable to a second positiondisengaged with the cable.
 7. The clamp assembly of claim 1, wherein thebody member includes a mounting ear.
 8. The clamp assembly of claim 1,wherein a width of the fastener opening expands away from a center ofthe fastener opening extending in the second direction.
 9. The clampassembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener opening is bound by a firstangled side wall and a second angled side wall in the second direction,wherein the first angled side wall and the second angled side wallobliquely extend apart from each other.
 10. The clamp assembly of claim1, wherein the cable groove has an approximately 90 degree bend forsupporting the cable in a first direction and second direction.
 11. Aclamp assembly, comprising: a keeper having a surface adapted to engagea cable; a body member having a cable groove, a fastener opening, apocket for receiving the keeper, and a recessed area formed opposite thepocket; and a fastener connecting the keeper to the body member, whereinthe fastener extends through the fastener opening and into the pocket,and wherein the recessed area is substantially V-shaped.
 12. The clampassembly of claim 11, wherein the pocket is a first side wall, a secondside wall opposite the first side wall, and a bottom wall.
 13. The clampassembly of claim 11, wherein the pocket is a substantially U-shapedcavity.
 14. The clamp assembly of claim 11, wherein the recessed areareceives a head of the fastener and a nut is connected to the oppositeend of the fastener, the nut received in a chamber formed in the keepercorresponding to the outer shape of the nut.
 15. The clamp assembly ofclaim 11, wherein the recessed area expands from the fastener opening toan opposite edge of the body member.
 16. The clamp assembly of claim 15,wherein the recess is bound on a first side by an angled side wall andbound on a second side by an angled side wall.
 17. The clamp assembly ofclaim 11, further comprising a biasing member disposed between thekeeper and the body member.